The closure of Ford's Bridgend engine plant in 2020 resulted in significant economic decline and loss of jobs in the community. At its peak, the plant employed 1,700 people. Following the closure, many former workers sought employment at other car manufacturers or pursued retraining. The site remains empty, but Vantage, a US-based datacentre company, has acquired the land and plans to build a multi-billion pound datacentre complex, potentially revitalizing the area and creating economic impacts.
During its 40 years of operations, workers at Bridgend Ford produced 22 million engines for Ford, Volvo and Jaguar cars, before it closed quietly in September 2020.
Debbie's husband was one of 1,700 people who worked for the biggest employer in the town, located between Cardiff and Swansea, when the factory's closure was announced in 2019.
The US-based datacentre company Vantage bought the land for a reported 27.5 million in 2024, the biggest industrial transaction in south Wales last year.
We recognize the importance of industry in Bridgend, says Vantage in its application, stating that the cluster of 10 datacenters will create significant economic impacts.
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